Find the next number in the sequence

5 12 24 36 ?

As a whole I am both
safe and secure.

Behead me and I become
a place of meeting.

Behead me again and I am
the partner of ready.

Restore me, and I become
the domain of beasts.

What am I?

Buy me, smell me or deliver me, I do not change.

Who am I?

What is the word or phrase below?
R | E | A | D

Three ants are going up a hill, one behind the other. The last ant then says to the other ants, 'There is an ant behind me!'' How come?

You have four chains. Each chain has three links in it. Although it is difficult to cut the links, you wish to make a single loop with all 12 links. What is the fewest number of cuts you must make to accomplish this task?

One night, Louis and Adam were sitting together. Adam was watching a movie while his wife Louis was reading a mystery book. Suddenly the power went out and Adam decided to go to bed, but strangely Louis kept on reading. There was no artificial light around, so Louis kept on reading. How come?

Always in you, Sometimes on you;

If I surround you, I can kill you.

What am I?

You are provided with a grid (as shown in the picture). Can you fill the squares with numbers 1-8 in a manner that none of the two consecutive numbers are placed next to each other in any direction (vertically, horizontally or diagonally?)

I can be cracked, made, told, and played. What am I?